32Synonyms found for ordain

Word Origin & History

ordain late 13c., "to appoint or admit to the ministry of the Church," from stem of O.Fr. ordener, from L. ordinare "put in order, arrange, dispose, appoint," from ordo (gen. ordinis) "order." The notion is "to confer holy orders upon" (see order). Meaning "to decree, enact" is from c.1300; sense of "to set (something) that will continue in a certain order" is from early 14c.

Example Sentences for ordain

It is announced in their name--it receives its political existence from their authority: they ordain and establish.

He persisted to refuse to ordain bishops, named by the king, without a canonical election.

Within other denominations certain bishops or church leaders are well known to be sympathetic to gays and willing to ordain them.